UX Research | Style Guide | Usability Testing
Bloomey is an innovative extension of the Homey smart home system, created to simplify plant care for users with busy lifestyles. Developed by me and my 3 other designers over the course of a month, the project integrates smart technology to assist with plant well-being while aligning seamlessly with Homey existing design and functionality.
Duration
4 weeks
Role
UX/UI Research
&
Design
Project
University Project
Tools
Adobe xd
&
Miro
01. Overview
Homey is a versatile smart home platform designed to centralize and streamline home automation. It integrates with a wide range of devices from various brands, enabling users to control lights, thermostats, speakers, and more through a single app or device.
Homey allows for customized automation scenarios, known as “Flows,” where users can set triggers and actions to make their home work intelligently, such as turning on lights when motion is detected or adjusting the thermostat based on the time of day.
Our designed app Bloomey is an extension of the Homey smart home system, designed to simplify plant care for users with busy lifestyles. The kit consists of an app, a smart pod, and a plant sensor, allowing users to automate and monitor their plants’ health.
The app features customizable care flows, plant status updates, and notifications, while the smart pod waters plants and measures soil health, and the sensor tracks factors like pH, humidity, and sunlight. With its user-friendly interface and seamless integration with Homey design, Bloomey caters to both tech-savvy and non-tech-savvy individuals.
02. Problem
The problem that motivated the creation of Bloomey was the challenge faced by busy individuals who want to maintain healthy, thriving plants at home but struggle with the time, knowledge, or consistency required for proper care. Many plant owners lack experience in monitoring essential factors like soil health, watering schedules, and environmental conditions, which can lead to plant neglect or failure.
Additionally, while smart home systems like Homey offer broad functionality, there was no dedicated solution for plant care integrated into the ecosystem. This gap presented an opportunity to create a specialized, user-friendly product that would simplify plant maintenance through automation and smart monitoring.
By addressing these issues, Bloomey aims to reduce the stress, time investment, and guesswork associated with plant care, allowing users to enjoy the benefits of a plant-filled home effortlessly.
03. Design Process
The design process for Bloomey began with identifying plant care as a challenge that could benefit from innovative smart home integration. We have conducted user research and interviews to understand user needs and confirmed the demand for a solution that simplifies plant maintenance.
Part of our university requirements was to improve an already existing product, therefore we decided to expand on the Homey platform to ensure compatibility while maintaining a distinct experience for plant enthusiasts. Our initial concept focused on creating a solution that integrated an app, a smart pod, and a plant sensor, offering a tailored approach to plant care while leveraging the established functionality of the Homey ecosystem.
User personas were developed to ensure the product catered to both tech-savvy and less technical users, and the team used empathy maps and experience maps to inform design decisions.
The design process involved multiple stages of prototyping, ideation, and testing. Initial wireframes evolved into high-fidelity mockups, with user feedback driving significant improvements. Testing methods like tree testing, five-second tests, and moderated user testing helped refine the app’s functionality and user flows.
To learn more about the process involved in creating Bloomy, I encourage you to watch the video I created below.
04. Solution & Prototype
Our final product allows users to monitor and manage their plants, offering real-time updates on plant health, customizable care flows, and notifications for required actions. It provides tailored care recommendations based on plant types, including features like automated watering schedules and status tracking for moisture, pH, humidity, and sunlight exposure.
The smart pod automates watering based on plant-specific needs, while the plant sensor tracks environmental factors and syncs data with the app for easy adjustments.
Bloomey was designed for individuals who want to enjoy the benefits of indoor plants but may lack the time or expertise to care for them. It integrates seamlessly with Homey smart home ecosystem, offering a user-friendly experience that caters to both tech-savvy and beginner users.
The system ensures that plants thrive with minimal effort, making plant care efficient and stress-free. Key differentiators include personalized care options, advanced functionality for experienced users, and simplicity for beginners, all aimed at helping users maintain vibrant, healthy plants effortlessly.
To view the prototype, simply click on the image below, which will take you to the Adobe XD file.
